Entering tournies??---Low handicappers

[TN94z]

I have devoted this year to strictly working on my game to get it in shape to be really competitive in tournaments next year. My question deals more with this year. There is a Mid-Am qualifier in Septemeber that I have thought about playing in just to get a feel for what to expect next year. Now I know that I probably don't have a chance at winning or probably even qualifying this year. Should I just save my money and wait or should I get in just for the experience? There are a couple of local club tournaments that I am going to get in but the State tournaments, I'm sure, are much more pressure packed. What are the low handicappers opinion on this??

[underparnv]

Short answer: Play in any and all tournaments. The more times you can experience tournament pressure, the better.

Long answer: I'm about the same ability as you currently and have been playing tournaments since I got to single digits. While my first tournament wasn't the State Mid-Amateur, I would still recommend participating in these "major" events (major to us anyway...). Not only do you get to play with some great golfers, you also normally get a couple of rounds on a great course for somewhat cheap. Just this past Tuesday I played in the USGA Public Links Qualifier and got to play two rounds on a private course* for $50!! Can't beat that!!

As I said in the short answer, participating in tournaments is the only way to get experience in tournaments, so why not just dive right in? You may shock yourself with how you handle yourself under the pressure!

* - Isn't it funny that the USGA held the Public Links qualifier on a private course?!?!

[David in FL]

Nothing beats experience. It's all good.

If you wait until you think you're gonna win, you're either likely to be very disappointed, or you'll never enter!

Go for it, and have fun!

[wannabe]

* - Isn't it funny that the USGA held the Public Links qualifier on a private course?!?!

that is funny!

tourneys - one can dream...

[TN94z]

I think I have my answer. I am going to start playing in any and all tournaments I can!!

[DavidFehertysBike]

I agree with the other posters. Whenever you have a chance to compete, on any level, take it. Im planning to qualify in my states publinks in a few weeks. I'll probably qaulify, but I dont have a chance in hell in the actual tournament. I do it just to test myself and to get the experience for the following season.

[shankapotamus]

I think I have my answer. I am going to start playing in any and all tournaments I can!!

That's good to hear. It's never going to hurt to play in tournaments.

[CG031]

Yeah tournaments are fun but also nerve wracking. I play high school golf and competed in a tournament recently (usually about five per summer)...missed the cut for match play championship by 3 strokes, the scores were high with how long the course was playing. And it's tough when your hitting the ball really well, and just not scoring. I felt as though I hit the ball great, but just couldn't get the ball in the hole to score well, and a few bad holes (two triples just killed me.)...

But anyway, Good Luck with everything and I agree the experience will pay off.

[NotAStick]

Tournaments rock, though I haven't played many since highschool and college. I've tried to Monday qualify a few times in smaller pro events - state opens, nationwide tour events and generally went into it without a lot of confidence. There is something about getting excited to play, weeks in advance, that seems to submarine my game. In the lead up the tournaments, I played practice rounds, even once against a mini-tour pro for $300 (to try to add pressure) and shot 68 and won, but I go out to the tournament and shoot 80. Gah.

I wish I had the time to go play more. I'd go out for the state am and a few other tournaments, but there aren't enough 2-day weekend tournament with any significance. I simply can't book a busy Thursday-Friday weeks in advance without taking the entire week off from work.

Oh, well.

[FortAsel]

Along with the changes you are making, you should play tournaments. Otherise, the golf swing will have changed a lot on the practice tee, andnot so much where it really counts

[Shorty]

I have devoted this year to strictly working on my game to get it in shape to be really competitive in tournaments next year.

You have made the biggest mistake of your golfing life.

You must play competitive golf, under pressure as often as you can. Unkind as it may sound, I would say that subconsciously you feel that you don't have to face the pressure of dealing with reality by avoiding playing real golf. There is nothing wrong with playing competitively and doing poorly. You will learn infinitely more by putting some heat on yourself rather than avoiding it. If you read Tom Coyne's book, Paper Tiger, he took a year to totally dedicate himself, but he played as much competitive golf as he could.

[TN94z]

You have made the biggest mistake of your golfing life.

I disagree. I don't see this as a mistake at all. What is wrong with making swing changes to develop a better swing? I am not avoiding playing real golf. I still play at least 2 rounds per week. I have just now started to really consider playing in real tournaments. I want to play competitive golf as soon as possible! I have no thoughts of avoiding it at all. I just didn't know if I should go out there while in the process of swing changes or not.

Biggest mistake of my golfing life??? Quite the opposite...my choices this year have been the best choices of my golfing life!

[wannabe]

way to stick to your guns, TN. I'll bet you've been in golf competition already, you're just taking it to the next level. Go get 'em.

[TN94z]

way to stick to your guns, TN. I'll bet you've been in golf competition already, you're just taking it to the next level. Go get 'em.

Yes I have. I have played in our little local tournaments whenever they come around. The tournaments I speak of in this thread are the USGA State Tournaments. I have never played in those as my game has never really been at that level. It has finally gotten to a somewhat descent competitive level and I want to start hitting those tournaments now. It's not like I have been playing in them and I quit this year for fear of shooting badly.

[youngskip40]

I agree with most of the posts here. Play in as many tournaments as you can financially, mentally and physically handle.

Shorty's response may have been a bit harsh. Part of it was not entirely untrue though. By that I just mean that part of what you are working on (working hard on your game to get it to a competitive level by next year) is playing in tournaments. I agree with the comment about the book Paper Tiger, partly because it is an awesome book... but also because he undoubtably gets to the level of a great player, and shoots in the 60's several times in practice rounds or casual rounds... but even when playing in some minor amateur tournaments, the first few times he blows up and shoots in the 80's.

As many people have said already, you never know how your mind, body and most importantly, swing will react under pressure. I know you said you've played in tournaments before, so you know what I'm talking about, but like the first response said, the more times you do it, the better off you are. And you need to keep doing it, or else you get too used to not feeling any pressure over shots. You need that pressure to test you skills.


I myself am just getting back into playing tournaments again, and after a competitive hiatus of about 5 or 6 years, it didn't matter that I had played in over 100 matches and/or tournaments, I was like a scared little kid on the first tee again, haha.

I know you already have your answer, but just wanted to reinforce with my opinion. I think it's a good call to play as many as you can.

[wannabe]

Shorty's response may also have been a little reverse psychology psy-op to check your confidence & commitment. The old "drill sargent in the face" routine.

[TN94z]

I agree with most of the posts here. Play in as many tournaments as you can financially, mentally and physically handle.

What I mean by this is that have started taking lessons to get my swing on a more consistent plane to remove my flaws that I have (which are bad). I am also starting to concentrate on the mental aspect, which I agree can really be tested in tournaments. I have also started working with a TPI certified physical therapist on my flexibility and strength weaknesses.

I guess when I stated that I had "dedicated this year to getting ready for tournaments next year", I left it pretty vague and that could be taken different ways by different people. I have been making some pretty descent swing changes and that is what had me confused about playing in these USGA tournaments. Also, I was not offended in any way by Shorty's response. I can take criticism...ask my golf teacher I welcome any and ALL opinions on the subject. But to say that I have made the biggest mistake of my golfing career is a little dramatic.... And to say that I am avoiding playing in tournaments, that is something that can only be said if you know the golfer personally. Anyone who "knows me" knows that I thrive on competition!! And "face the pressure of dealing with reality by avoiding playing real golf" Come on man....this isn't psychology class, its a message board, you dont' have to try and get so deep

[youngskip40]

What I mean by this is that have started taking lessons to get my swing on a more consistent plane to remove my flaws that I have (which are bad). I am also starting to concentrate on the mental aspect, which I agree can really be tested in tournaments. I have also started working with a TPI certified physical therapist on my flexibility and strength weaknesses.

Well done then. Good for you. I know just what you are talking about. Again though, definitely a good idea to test how that swing change holds up under pressure every now and then.

Good luck to you!